praetorium

American  

[pree-tawr-ee-uhm] / priˈtɔr i əm /

Sometimes pretorium

noun

1. Roman History.

   1. Usually Praetorium the palace of a provincial governor or of the consul or emperor.

   2. Often Praetorium the tent or building occupied by the general or commanding officer in a military camp.

2. a large, imposing official building or residence.

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Etymology

Origin of praetorium

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin, equivalent to praetor ( def. ) + -ium ( def. )

Example Sentences

Some say Pilate's praetorium would have been in the military barracks, others say the Roman general would probably have been a guest in the palace built by Herod.

From Chicago Tribune • Jan. 4, 2015

Questions about the location stem from various interpretations of the Gospels, which describe how Jesus of Nazareth was brought before Pilate in the "praetorium," a Latin term for a general's tent within a Roman encampment.

From Chicago Tribune • Jan. 4, 2015

This might mean the praetorium or palace of Herod Agrippa II. at Caesarea, but it is possible that it has quite a different meaning.

From The Books of the New Testament by Pullan, Leighton

Leaving the ramparts, they walked back toward the praetorium, Fabius breaking the seals and reading the letters as he walked.

From The Lion's Brood by Osborne, Duffield

Tunica Coccinia solebat pridie quam dimicandum esset, supra praetorium poni, quasi admonito, & indicium futurae pugnae.

From Hudibras by Butler, Samuel